Holly Holm just can't stay away from the fire. Most fans still have that image of her at UFC 300 burned into their retinas—the one where Kayla Harrison basically treated a living legend like a grappling dummy before choking her out. It felt like the end. People were literally tweeting "Retire, Holly" before she even left the octagon.
But Holly isn't most people.
Fast forward to January 3, 2026. Instead of a cage in Vegas, she’s in a boxing ring in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She isn't fighting some "tune-up" opponent either. She’s staring down Stephanie Han, the undefeated WBA lightweight champion. If you’re looking for the Holly Holm last fight details, this is where the story gets weird and, honestly, kind of heartbreaking for the "Preacher’s Daughter" faithful.
The Puerto Rico Stoppage: A Messy Night for the Hall of Famer
Walking into the Coliseo Roberto Clemente, the stakes were stupidly high. At 44 years old, Holly was trying to become a four-division boxing world champion. Think about that. She already conquered the UFC. She’s already in the Boxing Hall of Fame. Most people her age are struggling with a 5k, and she’s trying to snatch a belt from a woman who is a full-time police officer and a relentless pressure fighter.
The fight itself was vintage Holm for the first few rounds. Lots of footwork. Lots of that "ish-ish" grunting as she threw jabs. But Han was just... busier. She was landing volume. The judges saw it too.
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Then came the seventh round.
It was an accidental clash of heads. It happens in boxing all the time, but this one was nasty. A gash opened up on the hairline, and the blood started flowing. The ringside doctor took one look and said, "Nope." Just like that, it was over. Because they had completed four rounds, it went to the scorecards for a technical decision.
The scores? 68-65, 69-64, and 68-65. All for Stephanie Han.
Why the Result Feels Unfinished
Holly was visibly frustrated. In her post-fight interview, she basically said what we were all thinking: she was waiting for the championship rounds to turn it on. That’s her whole brand. She’s a cardio machine. She wanted to drag Han into the deep water of rounds 8, 9, and 10.
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Instead, she walked away with a technical decision loss.
The Road Back: How She Got Here
To understand why this fight matters, you have to look at the chaotic 18 months leading up to it. After the Kayla Harrison disaster at UFC 300 (April 2024), Holly basically went dark. She eventually requested her release from the UFC in early 2025. It was a "mutual" split, which is corporate speak for "we aren't going to give you a title shot, and you don't want to be a gatekeeper."
She signed with Most Valuable Promotions (MVP)—the Jake Paul outfit.
Her boxing "re-debut" happened in June 2025 against Yolanda Vega. Honestly? She looked incredible. She shut Vega out. 100-90 on all three cards. It gave everyone hope that maybe, just maybe, she could pull off one last miracle.
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Comparing the MMA Exit to the Boxing Return
| Detail | Last MMA Fight (UFC 300) | Last Boxing Fight (Jan 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Opponent | Kayla Harrison | Stephanie Han |
| Result | Submission Loss (R2) | Technical Decision Loss (R7) |
| The Vibe | "She's too old for this." | "She can still compete, but luck is gone." |
Is Holly Holm Done Fighting?
Here’s the thing about Holly: she doesn't know how to quit. After the Han loss, Stephanie Han actually offered her an immediate rematch right there in the ring. Holly’s response? "Absolutely."
But we have to be real. She’s 1-1 in this boxing comeback. She’s 44. The reflexes aren't what they were when she head-kicked Ronda Rousey into another dimension.
There’s a lot of talk about a potential fight with Cris Cyborg in the ring, or maybe a rematch with Han later in 2026. But for now, the "Holly Holm last fight" is a "what if" story. She was down on the cards, the blood stopped the show, and we never got to see if the "Preacher's Daughter" had one last comeback in her.
What to Watch for Next
If you're following Holly's career, keep an eye on the MVP fight schedules for the summer of 2026. There's a high probability they try to run the Han fight back in Texas (Han's home turf) or back in Albuquerque.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Don't expect an MMA return: She’s officially out of the UFC and focused on boxing legacy.
- The Rematch is likely: Both Han and Holm want to settle the "technical decision" controversy.
- Watch the cuts: Holly’s skin is showing the wear and tear of 20+ years of combat; scar tissue is becoming a major factor in her recent outings.
Holly Holm is a legend, but the clock is ticking louder than ever. Whether she gets that fourth-division title or not, the Jan 3rd fight proved she’s still willing to bleed for it.